Bamboo Island: Untouched Paradise Near Phi Phi

Where Is Bamboo Island?

Bamboo Island (Koh Mai Phai) is a small, flat island located about 5 kilometers north of Phi Phi Don in the Andaman Sea. It is part of the Hat Noppharat Thara-Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park. Unlike the dramatic cliffs of its neighboring Phi Phi islands, Bamboo Island is essentially a sandbar covered with tropical vegetation, surrounded by a wide fringe of white sand beach and shallow turquoise water.

The island is roughly 700 meters long and 300 meters wide at its broadest point. There are no permanent buildings, hotels, or restaurants here. It is simply a natural island with a beach, some trees, and an incredible reef. That simplicity is exactly what makes it special.

Why Visit Bamboo Island?

Bamboo Island offers something increasingly rare in the popular tourist areas of Thailand: a genuinely unspoiled beach experience. The sand is fine and white, the water is shallow and clear for 50 meters or more out from shore, and the reef that circles the island supports a healthy population of tropical fish and corals.

If you have seen photos of the "perfect tropical island" with a ring of white sand, swaying palms, and turquoise water in every direction, that is essentially what Bamboo Island looks like in real life. It is a place to swim, snorkel, lie on the beach, and enjoy the simple beauty of the Andaman Sea.

How to Get to Bamboo Island

Bamboo Island is most commonly visited as part of a Phi Phi Islands tour from Phuket. Many speedboat tours include a stop at Bamboo Island for beach time, snorkeling, or lunch. The journey from Phuket to Bamboo Island takes about 60 to 75 minutes by speedboat.

You can also visit Bamboo Island from Phi Phi Don if you are staying overnight there. Longtail boats from Tonsai Pier on Phi Phi Don make the trip in about 20 to 30 minutes. You can hire a longtail for approximately 2,000 to 3,000 THB for a half-day trip.

Snorkeling at Bamboo Island

The snorkeling around Bamboo Island is excellent, particularly on the eastern and southern sides where the reef is most intact. The water is typically shallow (1 to 4 meters) close to shore, making it suitable for snorkelers of all skill levels.

Marine life you can expect to see includes:

• Colorful parrotfish and wrasses
• Schools of sergeant majors and damselfish
• Butterflyfish and angelfish
• Sea cucumbers on the sandy bottom
• Anemones with clownfish
• Occasional small blacktip reef sharks in deeper water

The best snorkeling is during the morning hours when the water is calmest and visibility is at its best. By early afternoon, wind can stir up the sand in the shallows.

National Park Fee

Because Bamboo Island is part of the national park, you will need to pay an entrance fee:

• Foreign adults: 400 THB
• Foreign children: 200 THB

If you are on a group tour, this fee may or may not be included in your tour price. Always confirm with your operator before booking.

What to Bring

Since there are no shops or restaurants on Bamboo Island, you need to bring everything you will need:

• Water and snacks: Most tours provide lunch and water, but bring extra if you want
• Reef-safe sunscreen: Essential for protecting both your skin and the reef
• Snorkeling gear: Provided by tour operators, or bring your own for a better fit
• A hat and sunglasses: Limited shade on the beach
• A waterproof bag: For your phone and camera

For a full packing guide, check our article on what to bring on an island tour from Phuket.

Best Time to Visit

Bamboo Island is best visited during the dry season from November to April. During this time, seas are calm, visibility is excellent, and rain is rare. The island is part of the Phi Phi group, so it follows the same seasonal patterns.

During the rainy season (May to October), access can be difficult due to rough seas. Some tour operators suspend visits to Bamboo Island during the worst weather months (typically July through September).

Environmental Awareness

Bamboo Island has faced environmental pressure from high visitor numbers. The national park authority has implemented conservation measures including:

• Visitor caps to limit the number of people on the island at any given time
• Restrictions on boats anchoring directly over the reef
• Prohibition of smoking and littering
• Seasonal closures if the reef needs recovery time

As a visitor, you can help by taking all trash with you, using reef-safe sunscreen, not stepping on or touching coral, and following all park rules. These small actions make a real difference in preserving this beautiful place for future visitors.

Bamboo Island vs Other Phi Phi Stops

Here is how Bamboo Island compares to other popular stops on a Phi Phi tour:

• Maya Bay: More dramatic scenery but no swimming allowed. Bamboo Island lets you swim freely.
• Pileh Lagoon: Better for swimming in a sheltered lagoon. Bamboo Island is better for beach time and snorkeling.
• Monkey Beach: A quick photo stop. Bamboo Island is for spending real time on the beach.

Ideally, a full-day Phi Phi speedboat tour will include all of these stops, giving you the complete experience. Browse our available tours to find options that include Bamboo Island.